plate no. 5664

Self-portrait

Pekka Halonen, 1906

oil, canvasRealismself-portraitportraitfigureself-portraitclothingfaceman

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portrait proportions, skin tone mixing, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides an opportunity to study the effects of light and shadow on a human face.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, neck, and shoulders.
step 02
Block in the background with a dark, muted color.
step 03
Establish the main light and shadow areas on the face and neck using a limited palette of earth tones.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 05
Paint the shirt, focusing on the folds and highlights.
step 06
Refine the facial features, adding details to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 07
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form.
step 08
Revisit the background and shirt to ensure they complement the portrait.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix skin tones by combining white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of cadmium red. Use ultramarine blue and burnt umber to create the dark background. Add white to these colors to create lighter tones for the shirt.

techniques